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Yeah, I'm 18 months out and for dinner tonight I made homemade chicken jaegerschnitzel (breaded boneless skinless breast with a mushroom and onion gravy) and I measured out my portion just to see how much I could eat. I was aiming for 4 ounces but only managed to eat 3 ounces. I had no side dishes. I still have a LOT of restriction. I can eat one egg scrambled with cheese. I can eat half a sandwich and half a cup of Soup. I can eat half a cheeseburger. I can eat one slice of pizza. So with that meal I would have had to sit there for more than an hour and pick at it but I could have eaten probably 2 oz. of the steak (steak fills me up very quickly), a few bites of broccoli and carrot and I would have deliberately saved room for a few bites of dessert. And I agree with the idea that there are no last meals. We make changes to how we eat and we should be more careful about tracking our food and meeting nutritional goals but we should also be aiming to eat like normal people. This is a lifelong change - we had major surgery to reach a weight loss goal and be healthier people, but our stomachs don't miraculously grow back once we reach goal. Going into it looking at foods and saying, "I'll never eat this again" is just asking for trouble! You want to get to the point where you can take or leave food and not let it control your life, and where you can eat like a normal person with no food issues. So, heal up and in six months go out for another steak dinner at Applebees. I'd bring a friend or two to share with, because you won't be eating nearly as much next time around. ~Cheri

Agreed - they don't squish the chest too much and I'd order in whatever size you're in now. I noticed the same thing as Swizzly when I hit a size eight and had to go down to a M at that point. Now I order a S and I'm a 6 (sometimes 4). They're snug but not so snug I can't get them on or that they roll up. I want them to still suck in all that extra skin, you know? Anyway, I pull them all the way down to my hips and wear my jeans over them and they never roll up or give me an issue. I love the FF Dressing tanks and even wear them around the house or when I work out (can't be having all that skin flop around during jumping jacks!) and they're super comfortable even though they're very slimming. ~Cheri

I eat Chinese food all the time. I love it, especially the spicy dishes with chicken and nuts. I almost always avoid the rice, noodles, etc. that I used to eat, simply because I want to enjoy my meal, not squirm in discomfort. I usually start with some Soup, eat a few bites of several different main dishes and maybe even have a bit of someone's spring roll, egg roll or dumpling. I think that so long as nothing you're eating is a danger to you because of healing, you should be focusing on eating like a normal person. For me, part of having the sleeve was to shake the diet mentality, to finally get over forbidden foods and the binges I'd have as a consequence of denying myself. My approach was and is to focus on keeping my calories at a certain level, to make sure I got at least 80 grams of Protein a day and to keep those carbs restricted but not ridiculously so. I eat about 1200 calories a day now (it's not easy!), average about 90 grams of protein and usually I have about as many carbs as I do protein. I'm happy, I'm maintaining with no problem and I never, ever feel deprived. This is something I can do FOREVER, which is the point. So, act like a person with no food issues and eat what you like, in moderation. Always keep your eyes peeled for those trigger foods, though. Track it all, whether it's a stick of celery or a chocolate chip cookie and keep within your nutritional goals. You won't be able to avoid losing weight, and you won't have any of the mental baggage that comes with being on a diet. Find that spot for yourself where you continue to lose but also feel happy about what you're eating. We have the sleeve so we can be NORMAL. If we wanted to be on a diet forever, we would have given Weight Watchers or MediFast another shot. ~Cheri

See, I always LOVED pickles, particularly the extra crunchy and garlicy Claussen ones (when I couldn't get to a good deli and fish one out of a barrel, anyway) and used them as a snack all the time before surgery. Now my taste buds are wacky and they taste too salty and too sour for me! I've tried a few different brands but no dice, they just don't do it for me anymore. I will add that I was always told to limit pickles (and any other "free" food) to 3 or less a day because of the sodium, though, so watch that if you notice a small bump up on the scale. ~Cheri

Congrats on your success so far! I was sure I was pretty done around one year but I shed another fifteen pounds (and a pant size) very slowly over months 12-15 so it's definitely possible that you'll continue to lose. The weight comes off much more slowly as we get close to goal but it still comes off if we do the right things. You look fabulous and you've done a great job. Enjoy it! ~Cheri

Oh gosh, I didn't tell a lot of people but it was like everyone bigger in my life was just determined that it was their job to "soften the blow" and remind me (repeatedly) that I might never make it smaller than a 12/14 or that I'd never reach my goal of 135 pounds. On one hand, I'm sure that nobody could actually picture me any smaller than that, because I spent more than a decade with a 12 being as small as I could get. And yes, I heard the lines about how my family is just made of bigger people and it was unrealistic to expect to be a small person. Well, I started my journey for health, too. And my goal of 135 might sound small to my overweight friends and family, but if I gain just 2 pounds I'm in the overweight category on the BMI chart! There's nothing unreasonable about a goal like that, now is there? I'm a size S/6 and I never in a million years thought I'd be this small. I believed what I heard from other people even as I scoffed at them. I really expected to have to find a way to be happy as a size ten or so. It took me a long time to get to goal but I'm here and I'm never gaining the weight back again. You just keep on working your sleeve until you get to where your body is happy and you're happy with your body. ~Cheri

Yes, you're hearing the right things here. Hydration trumps caloric intake while you heal. It took me several months to hit my daily nutritional goals of 80+ grams of protein and 800 calories a day. Eventually you'll get there. Right now focus on getting 64 oz. of liquids in each day and taking it easy while you heal. If you were heavy enough for surgery, I promise you won't starve to death in the few weeks you'll have such a limited intake. ~Cheri

Yep, shakes are the way to go. I still use them! I have at least a few a week, sometimes one a day. I just can't eat a lot at a time, and rather than eat around the clock I'll just start my day with a Protein shake. ~Cheri

Congrats on your new sleeve! You'll heal up and feel better every day from here out. I still remember being completely grossed out by my noisy stomach post op. And to be honest, it's not as bad now that the acid isn't an issue anymore, but I still have a lot of gurgling and rumbling! You'll get used to it, I promise. I'd take a sometimes embarrassing stomach over plus sizes any day. ~Cheri

Thanks for sharing your experience! I think we all fret about the possibility of a leak even if we're following doctor's orders. I like your goals list, too! Great way to keep yourself motivated. Even though I still had a lot to lose at that point, I think I was proudest after I could shop regular stores and give away all of my plus-sized clothing. Hitting goal was really great, but sort of anticlimactic after feeling "normal" for so long. Best of luck to you on your journey. You'll be posting pictures and halfway to goal in no time. I can't believe how quickly the last year flew by for me. ~Cheri

I wear all sorts of shapewear but my very favorite item is my Rago firm shapewear girdle. It's a waist cincher. It's probably way TMI but as I close those hook and eye closures my nasty tummy skin just folds up and hides away. It accentuates my natural hourglass shape and literally pulls in inches of skin. I have it in nude and it's virtually undetectable under clothing (I can't wear something knit that is skin tight without a cami over the top, though). It goes from just under my bra all the way to the top of my hips. Best of all? It was less than forty dollars. I love their vintage inspired lingerie and shapewear and this is now my favorite brand to shop. I also wear the camisoles, waist cinchers and corsettes by Flexees. I do not like Spanx for anything but pantyhose. My personal experience is that they cost more but don't work as effectively and they just aren't as comfortable. I can't wear any of the thigh shapers because my thigh skin is so soft that no matter how long the shorts are I have an obvious bump. I do LOVE the maidenform footless tights I just got - they suck in my thighs a lot and feel great under dress pants. I'm always looking for a bra with a nice band that won't make lumpy back fat - and I've found that the Incredible bra by Victoria's secret works quite well. It's not a control top bra but the wider band moves with you and doesn't make lumpy spots under your clothes. ~Cheri

How exciting!! I hope you have a great experience and a smooth recovery. ~Cheri

Yeah, I'd hang at one weight for more than six months before considering surgery. I say this because I thought I had hit my max a few months ago but after a long plateau/stall, shed another 20 pounds or so. Had I opted for plastics earlier who knows what that 20 pounds might have done to my results? I'm at goal now and considering plastics sometime in the next 18-24 months. Partly due to my geographic limitations (I'm stuck overseas until at least next April) but partly because I want to be totally sure I'm not going to lose any more weight or redistribute weight before I have work done. In some respects it's a hassle to wait - I HATE the shapewear I'm required to wear to look normal. However, it's better to be patient and have the best possible result after shelling out mega bucks for plastic surgery! ~Cheri

I'm not a vegetarian (currently) but spent a number of years as one. Then I got to my remote location here and couldn't find meat so I went back to a vegetarian diet for a while. As it is, I might eat meat once or twice a week. I'm no vegetarian, but I certainly eat a lot of vegetarian meals! I was never able to shake dairy until I got hit by lactose intolerance post op. Doesn't that just figure? I still love cheese but usually only have what I can make myself (simple farmer's cheeses, mozzarella, ricotta, etc.) so my intake is drastically reduced. I try to avoid Pasta, but I make syrniki as a dairy meal - basically it's a cheese pancake made from sweetened farmer's cheese and raisins. I also eat Beans with melted mozzarella on them, and I mix cheese into salads for that tiny Protein (and flavor) boost. I eat a lot of soy products but living in Central Asia means my access to those convenience foods is very limited. For the most part, if I can't make it myself I can't eat it. I make my own soy milk and drink some every day. I make the soy milk into yogurt, too, which I can then use for eating but also for sauces like tzatziki. I make lentil Soup and even lentil salads. I find myself eating tofu pretty frequently (prepared any number of ways), but I also make seitan and occasionally use TVP to make things like chili, sloppy joes or burgers. I use beans in almost everything and I make a big batch of hummus for Snacks and sandwiches. I even make uncheeses - there are a few of them I find tasty enough to eat even now that I eat cheese and meat when I want. I make curries, I make dal, I even try to make simple Soups and boost the protein in them by adding unflavored protein power (Integrated supplements brand works best, IMO). If you ask me, one of the best foods you can eat post VSG is seitan, assuming you like the taste. I make a big batch of "meatballs" from seitan and eating two of them will fill me up and give me 18 grams of protein. I was able to order a bunch of Fantastic Foods vegetarian meals for when I want to eat something in a hurry and they're tasty, even if they're not as healthy as something I could make myself. In any case, you probably have dozens more options than I do! I'm sure that if you get bored you can find some new recipes or ideas online. Hopefully someone else will chime in here with other ideas, too. When I think of it I get envious of the huge variety of prepared vegetarian meals available stateside. Everything I do here is certainly healthier because it's made from scratch but it's also very time consuming. ~Cheri

Yes, for most people hunger post op is totally different. I used to eat a huge meal of Pasta, breadsticks and salad, completely stuffing myself. Then I'd come home and within two hours I'd have my head in the fridge again because my stomach was growling! I'd drop off of every diet plan (WW, Nutrisystem, MediFast) because the around the clock feeling that I was starving got to be too much. Post op, eating was a real struggle for several months. It took me months to reach my nutritional goals every day. And now, 18 months out, I can have a day where I feel like all I did was eat the whole day long...only to find that once I've tracked my calories I've had less than 900 calories for the entire day. I never really get hungry anymore. Most people don't, so the odds are in your favor. And if you do have to battle the hunger? At least you'll be doing it with only 15% of your stomach, with the ability to just binge on foods all day gone. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery. I think your fears are normal. Even post op I had days where I wondered if I'd be the first person to totally fail the sleeve. We all worry, but we all lose the weight, too. ~Cheri

I'm at goal (finally!) and have totally emptied my closet three times. More than once I bought ahead in a size and wound up giving away or donating clothing items that still had tags on them! It's gotten to the point that when I buy new clothes I leave the tags until I'm ready to wash and wear them. I didn't get to revamp my wardrobe at 1 month, however. I think it took me about two months to lose enough weight that I had to invest in new clothes, and it wasn't really until 50 pounds off that I needed to invest in my first new wardrobe. I just did what I think will be my last wardrobe purchase. I spent a small fortune but I now have a closet full of clothes I can wear right now - there isn't a single item in there too small or too big. And the good news is that I'm pretty sure that these clothes will still fit me in a year, or two years, provided I can keep my husband away from my laundry. But I had to buy EVERYTHING - underthings, socks, shoes, clothes, a jacket, etc. because nothing I had still fit me. And to answer your question? I have given away six tall kitchen garbage bags full of clothes and I still have six large Rubbermaid totes of clothing in my basement waiting for a new home. I also had to give away four jackets and about forty pairs of shoes (I lost a shoe size, too). I went from a size 20/XXL to a 6/S had clothes for every size in between. I promise there have been some very happy people in my life, because most of those clothes were only worn for a month or two before they got too big! ~Cheri

I love that I wear a small or 4/6, sure, because I know darn well I was never that small even when I weighed fifteen pounds less than I do now! That said, I live overseas and order my clothes online. Vanity sizing is a PAIN. Mail can take 6 weeks each way and often I'm out of the window to return an item by the time it gets to me. Luckily, a lot of stores accommodate me and at least offer a store credit, but yes, it's a pain. Nowadays I get out my trusty measuring tape. I check the online size charts for each store before I shop and almost everything fits. In some stores I wear a medium instead of a small, but if I rely on their sizing charts I usually do pretty well. I do see one issue, though, and that is if I'm a small already what on earth comes after plastic surgery? XS? I can start to see the validity of some very thin women complaining that vanity sizing has sized them out completely! OH! And I am CONVINCED that bras are vanity sized, as well. Honestly! I was a 40DDD/E and despite the fact that my bosom is nothing near it's former grandeur I'm still a 32/34D...that's just crazy talk! ~Cheri

Congrats! It's a huge milestone to step out of the 200s and you should be proud of yourself. I'm sure that you'll be able to reach your fourth goal with more hard work and determination. Best of luck, ~Cheri

Could it possibly be the onset of the flu? It's that time of year. I'm concerned because this doesn't sound normal to me. If you're not dehydrated there might be a problem. If you're still battling this in 24 hours I'd make a call to the nurse for sure. I'd rather waste their time than have a major issue! I hope you get to feeling better soon. And don't ever feel like you shouldn't call your nurse for help - you had a major surgery done and if you have a question they are there to ease your mind. ~Cheri P.S. No only do we have the same name, but our starting stats/goal are pretty close! I'm 5'1" and started at 242, with goal at 135 pounds. You're going to do great!

Yep, it's a consistency thing, not an ingredient thing. Blend it up until it's totally smooth and enjoy! ~Cheri

You're doing a great job! Those first several weeks can be a real struggle, but from here on out it just gets easier every day. Before you know it you'll realize that you can't really remember life without the sleeve! Great work so far. Don't get too discouraged by the bumps in the road. It's a long journey but SO worth the time and effort. ~Cheri

Diets are great for losing about 30-40 pounds. They are not something most people can maintain long term with great success. Furthermore, the regain rate is ridiculous - if counting calories worked for everyone long term we'd all join Weight Watchers and be skinny. It doesn't work for everyone and nobody would need a lifelong membership if it worked forever. Now, on the one hand, I applaud the diligence and effort put forth by folks that do lose the weight "the old fashioned way." But I also know that I never in a million years would have shed 107 pounds if I hadn't had my VSG a year and a half ago. The sleeve will make sticking to any diet you choose much easier. Most people don't feel hunger after surgery - I'm 18 months out and still not hungry! It will force you to stop eating if you try to eat too much. The days of finding comfort in food will be gone. That said, the sleeve will not MAKE you choose to put the right foods in your mouth. In fact, the sleeve will probably put you in Bizarro World - eating, something you probably enjoy a lot right now, will become a hated chore! I bet you can't imagine that, can you? But for the first several months it will take effort and diligence on your part to meet your nutritional requirements, all while you have absolutely no desire to eat. I can't speak for you but I can share my experience. I'm a dieting veteran - I'd been trying to shed the weight since age twelve. I don't lack willpower and gave every diet at least a four month shot before finally quitting. I know that I would not be at goal weight without my sleeve. There is no way I could have done this on my own. I might have shed forty or fifty pounds, but I never would have found myself sitting pretty at goal weight. It didn't take me nine months to get to goal, it took me seventeen. I never in a million years could have worked any diet - not Weight Watchers, not Nutrisystem and not that awful MediFast, either - for the seventeen months it took to get to goal. That said, not everyone loses 100% of the hunger and some people really struggle to battle their food demons post op. I am not the greatest role model here - I eat like a normal person. I only restricted my carbs a bit in the beginning, I hardly exercise and I eat twice as many calories as some of the people on here. I say choose the sleeve if you want to lose the weight AND the diet mentality at the same time. Because again, while I'm not the best role model, I did it - slowly but surely. I'm a NORMAL person now, with no more food baggage or issues and a normal body weight. Think on it a bit more before you decide. I researched for better than a year before having my surgery. Best of luck to you whatever you choose. I believe that while the sleeve isn't a magical solution, it's damn near close in my book. ~Cheri

Yes, this is a long-haul journey and keeping positive is the very best thing you can do for yourself. You will not recover overnight, you will not lose the weight overnight, and you will not feel like an entirely new person overnight. But if you keep the right mindset as much as you can (we all slip into negativity after a rough patch now and again) you'll have a successful journey and come out the other side a totally changed person, inside and out. Best of luck to you - your surgery date is just around the corner! ~Cheri

Prayers and positive thoughts - I hope you make it through this with minimal difficulty. ~Cheri

Great work, can't wait to see how you look in just a few more months! You're definitely making progress. ~Cheri